Pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method is carried out by a service providing apparatus connected to a user terminal through a network, and the method includes the steps of acquiring player data having pitch types and command percentages by pitcher in real game situations, converting the player data into pitch type and speed data of a given pitching machine, receiving a request message for the player data, and providing the pitch type and speed data corresponding to the player data for the user terminal in response to the request message for the player data.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing the pitch type and speed data used to control a pitching machine through a network.

BACKGROUND ART

Baseball is one of popular sports. People who like baseball use a batting cage or virtual batting cage. A general pitching machine in the batting cage or virtual batting cage serves as a pitcher to throw a ball to a user, and the user serves as a batter to play baseball.

The pitching machine is used in a place where training for baseball players is carried out as well as in the batting cage or virtual batting cage. The pitching machine rotates a ball to a high speed by means of a plurality of rollers rotating to throw the ball toward a strike zone where a user is located.

In conventional practices, on the other hand, the pitching machine is configured to allow the speeds of the plurality of rollers to be varied by spinning the ball by the plurality of rollers, thereby making pitch types slightly different. So as to vary the pitch types and speeds in the conventional pitching machine, however, setting in a pitching machine controller has to be changed, so that it is not easy for a general manager to vary the pitch types and speeds under his or her control for the pitching machine. So as to control the pitching machine to thus provide various pitch types and speeds, accordingly, the manager or operator should finely control the speeds and positions of the rollers on the basis of his or her experiences, but since such work is involved in the work of a specialist, it is difficult for a general user to easily control the operations of the pitching machine. As a result, most of the pitching machine users still make use of the pitch types and speeds set upon the installation of the pitching machine.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the related art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method and apparatus that is capable of providing a pitch recipe having a database form for a user terminal controlling a pitching machine, thereby allowing the pitching machine to reproduce pitches with a series of pitch types and speeds used in a real game according to a player selected by a user or according to game situations.

Technical Solution

To accomplish the above-mentioned objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method carried out by a service providing apparatus connected to a user terminal through a network, the method including the steps of: converting player data having pitch types and command percentages by pitcher in real game situations into pitch type and speed data of a pitching machine, the pitch type and speed data having information of pitch speeds and command percentages by situation and pitch type; and providing the pitch type and speed data corresponding to the player data for the user terminal in response to a request message for the player data.

According to the present invention, in the converting step, the player data is analyzed and stored as average pitch speeds and command percentages on strike zones by player, situation, and pitch type, and based on the average pitch speeds and command percentages by player and pitch type, the positions and rotating speeds of ball driving units of the pitching machine on the strike zones are determined.

According to the present invention, the pitch type and speed data is a pitching control recipe of the pitching machine in the user terminal and includes first control values for throwing balls with the pitch types and speeds of a given pitcher under situations including right-handed batters, left-handed batters, existence of runners, first pitch, pitch after two strikes, and a combination thereof. Further, the pitch type and speed data includes second control values for setting pitching positions of balls or determining target positions of balls, which are used together with the first control values.

To accomplish the above-mentioned objects, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus connected to a user terminal through a network to provide pitch type and speed data of a pitching machine for the user terminal, the apparatus including: a conversion part for converting player data having pitch types and command percentages by pitcher in real game situations into pitch type and speed data of the pitching machine, the pitch type and speed data having information of pitch speeds and command percentages by situation and pitch type; and a download management part for providing the pitch type and speed data corresponding to the player data for the user terminal in response to a request message for the player data.

According to the present invention, the apparatus further includes a collection part for acquiring the player data and transmitting the acquired player data to a pitch recipe database.

According to the present invention, the download management part recognizes a request for a player or recipe from a user interface of a pitching program built in the user terminal through a communication part and provides the pitch type and speed data for the user terminal in response to the request.

According to the present invention, the pitch type and speed data includes a plurality of pitch types having fastball, slider, curve, changeup, splitter, sinker, cutter, forkball, and a combination thereof and control values for designating the positions and operating speeds of pitching machine units for the pitches of the pitching machine that are set in advance according to the average pitch speeds and command percentages on the respective pitch types.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present invention, the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method and apparatus can allow the user terminal or the pitching machine control device to control the pitching operations of the pitching machine, based on the pitch type and speed data with the pitch types, pitch speeds, and control positions by situation stored by player. According to such configuration and operating effectiveness, the pitching machine for player training is provided to reproduce the pitch types, pitch speeds, and control positions of currently active baseball players.

Further, according to the present invention, the user using the pitching machine can download the pitch type and speed data from the service providing apparatus remotely located, that is, the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus, on the user terminal through the network, thereby optimizing the conveniences of the user.

In addition, according to the present invention, the user can download the pitch type and speed data with the pitch types, pitch speeds, and control positions by situation that are performed by a pitcher in a recent baseball game on the user terminal through the network and drive the pitching machine with the downloaded pitch type and speed data or control the pitch type and speed data through the application on the user terminal, thereby controlling the operations of the pitching machine to a level of the player.

Further, according to the present invention, the operations of the pitching machine are controlled based on the pitch analysis recipe (the pitch type and speed data) through which the pitch types and speeds of the pitcher and the hit maps or command percentages on the strike zones are analyzed, thereby effectively performing pitching or batting training.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart showing an operating principle of the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a pitching control analysis recipe applied to the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing a pitching control analysis recipe adopted in the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view showing command percentages by situation and pitch type as analysis data adopted in the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view showing average pitch speeds of specific pitch types on strike zones that are used in the pitching control analysis recipe of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view showing command percentages of specific pitch types on strike zones that are used in the pitching control analysis recipe of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view showing pitch type and speed data converted to achieve pitch speeds and command percentages by situation and pitch type, based on player data of FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIGS. 10a to 10d are exemplary views showing the player data of a specific pitcher adopted in the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram showing a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram showing a conversion part adopted in the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a main operating principle of a pitching scenario data generator of the conversion part of FIG. 13.

FIGS. 15 to 21 are exemplary views showing processes of controlling the pitching machine in the user terminal by using the pitch type and speed data provided from the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus according to the present invention.

MODE FOR INVENTION

All terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings which are typically understood by those having ordinary skill in the art. The terms, such as ones defined in common dictionaries, should be interpreted as having the same meanings as terms in the context of pertinent technology, and should not be interpreted as having ideal or excessively formal meanings unless clearly defined in the specification.

The present invention may be modified in various ways and may have several exemplary embodiments. Specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this does not limit the invention within specific embodiments and it should be understood that the invention covers all the modifications, equivalents, and replacements within the idea and technical scope of the invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be in detail described with reference to attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart showing an operating principle of the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a pitching control analysis recipe applied to the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing system of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing system according to the present invention includes a user terminal 100, a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus 300, and a pitching machine 500.

The user terminal 100 includes a mobile computing device like a laptop, a tablet PC, and so on in such a manner as to be connected to the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus 300 or the pitching machine 500 through a wired or wireless network. The user terminal 100 receives pitch type and speed data from the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus 300 and thus controls the operations of the pitching machine 500 with the received pitch type and speed data.

The pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus 300 is a service providing apparatus for providing the pitch type and speed data through the network. In the description, hereinafter, the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus 300 will be referred to as a service providing apparatus. The service providing apparatus 300 provides the pitch type and speed data for the user terminal 100 or the pitching machine 500.

The pitching machine 500 serves to control the pitch types or speeds according to the control of the user terminal 100. Further, the pitching machine 500 serves to control pitching according to the pitch type and speed received from the service providing apparatus 300. The pitching machine 500 includes a pitching unit constituted of three rotary rollers, a position control unit for controlling the position of the pitching unit, and a control unit for transmitting and receiving signals and data and controlling the operations of the pitching unit and the position control unit. The control unit can be referred to as a pitching machine control device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing system according to the present invention collects data by player in real games (at step S21). The data by player is collected by the service providing apparatus 300, and otherwise, the data by player is collected by a separate external data collecting device and is then provided to the service providing apparatus 300.

The data by player (hereinafter, referred to simply as ‘player data’) includes information on ball types (pitch types) and ball speeds (pitch speeds) of balls thrown by pitchers in real baseball games, hitting maps (ball control positions) on strike zones, and situations upon pitching.

The situations upon pitching include right-handed or left-handed batters, existence of runners, existence of runners in scoring position, existence of first pitch, pitch after two strikes, and a combination thereof. According to the present invention, the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing system makes use of the player data obtained by analyzing the pitch types, pitch speeds, and ball control positions of the pitchers under the above-mentioned situations. The player data is produced to the form of structured data through baseball associations, baseball information service organizations, and so on and then stored accessibly to a server or database system. The form of structured data includes the form of data stored in a database.

Next, the service providing apparatus 300 applies codes by player (at step S22). The codes by player correspond to identifiers for distinguishing the player data according to players or pitchers.

After that, the service providing apparatus 300 constructs pitch data by player used in the pitching machine 500 (at step S23). The pitch data by player includes pitch type and speed data by player. The pitch type and speed data is produced based on the player data or through a process of converting at least a portion of the player data. For example, the pitch type and speed data of a specific player is produced based on average pitch speed information and command percentage information by pitch according to the situations.

Next, the service providing apparatus 300 provides the pitch data, that is, the pitch type and speed data, according to the request of the user terminal 100, and the user terminal 100 or the pitching machine 500 uploads the pitch data on a program for controlling the operations of the pitching machine 500 (at step S24).

After that, the user terminal 100 or the pitching machine control device applies a player mode to the pitching machine 500 through the uploaded program to thus drive the pitching machine 500 (at step S25).

Under the above-mentioned configuration, a user can perform hitting or pitching training that will be taken actually by a player. The pitching training is carried out by copying the pitch type, pitch speed and ball control position of the pitching machine in a virtual situation. For example, a user, player, or trainee performs pitching according to a situation set in advance and a pitch scenario to thus learn the pitches of a specific pitcher selected in advance. As shown in FIG. 3, the pitching training includes pitch types of (a) four-seam fastball, (b) two-seam fastball, (c) circle changeup, (d) curveball, (e) slider, and (f) forkball, their pitch speed, and their ball control position.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method (hereinafter, referred to simply as ‘service providing method’) according to the present invention is carried out by a service providing apparatus connected to a user terminal through a network and includes the steps of converting player data having pitch types and command percentages by pitcher in real game situations into pitch type and speed data of a pitching machine (at step S41) and providing the pitch type and speed data corresponding to the player data to the user terminal in response to a request message for the player data (at step S42). The pitch type and speed data includes pitch speeds and command percentages by situation and pitch type.

Further, in the converting step (step S41), the player data is analyzed and stored as average pitch speeds and command percentages on strike zones by player, situation, and pitch type. Based on the average pitch speeds and command percentages by player and pitch type, in the converting step (step S41), the positions and rotating speeds of ball driving units of the pitching machine on the strike zones are determined, and based on the determined positions and rotating speeds, control values applied to the pitches of the pitching machine are produced.

In this case, the pitch type and speed data is a pitching control recipe for the pitching machine in the user terminal and includes first control values for throwing balls with the pitch types and speeds of a given pitcher under situations including right-handed or left-handed batters, existence of runners, existence of runners in scoring position, first pitch, pitch after two strikes, and a combination thereof. The first control values include the rotating speed values of the three rotating units of the pitching unit of the pitching machine.

Further, the pitch type and speed data includes second control values for setting throwing positions of balls or determining target positions of balls, which are used together with the first control values. The second control values include position values for determining positions at the pitching time points of the pitching unit of the pitching machine. If the second control values are used, the pitching machine can in real time control the pitching position of the pitching unit through the position control unit.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing a pitching control analysis recipe adopted in the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is an exemplary view showing command percentages by situation and pitch type as analysis data adopted in the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, a pitching control analysis recipe according to the present invention generates the pitch type and speed data based on the average pitch speeds and command percentages of a specific player (pitcher) by situation and pitch type. As shown in FIGS. 5a to 5f , the average pitch speeds and command percentages are divided according to situations and pitch types, and accordingly, specific pitch types onto which the situations are reflected are shown. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5a to 5f , the average pitch speeds and command percentages by pitch type and the average pitch speeds for the pitching machine (PM) corresponding thereto are stored to have a data form. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5a to 5f , sets of average pitch speeds, average pitch speeds for PM, and command percentages are provided on the strike zones for the respective pitch types, such as fastball, slider, curve, changeup, splitter, and sinker.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the pitching control analysis recipe according to the present invention makes use of the command percentages by situation and pitch type in generating the pitch type and speed data. The situations include right-handed batters, left-handed batters, both-handed batter, nonexistence of runners, existence of runners, existence of runners in scoring position, first pitch, pitch after two strikes, and a ball after a strike is thrown, a strike after a ball is thrown, a situation where a strike count and a ball count are the same as each other, and so on. Further, the pitch types include fastball, slider, curve, changeup, splitter, sinker, knuckle, and so on.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view showing average pitch speeds of specific pitch types on strike zones that are used in the pitching control analysis recipe of FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is an exemplary view showing command percentages of specific pitch types on strike zones that are used in the pitching control analysis recipe of FIG. 5. FIG. 9 is an exemplary view showing pitch type and speed data converted to achieve pitch speeds and command percentages by situation and pitch type, based on player data of FIGS. 7 and 8.

Referring to FIG. 7, average pitch speed data (210) of a fastball has the form or format of data stored in a database, which is a kind of player data. The average pitch speed data of the fastball includes average pitch speed values and the number of pitches on nine central strike zones and 16 ball zones surrounding the strike zones. On each zone, the number of pitches is represented as numbers having relatively small sizes under the average pitch speed values, and each number corresponds to the number of pitches on the corresponding zone among the total number of pitches of the given pitcher.

Referring to FIG. 8, command percentage data (220) of a fastball has the form or format of data stored in a database, which is a kind of player data. The command percentage data of the fastball includes command percentages (%) and the number of pitches on nine central strike zones and 16 ball zones surrounding the strike zones.

Referring to FIG. 9, pitch type and speed data (230) of a fastball has the form or format of data stored in a database, which is a kind of average pitch speed for PM. The pitch type and speed data (230) of the fastball divides the nine central strike zones into left zones and right zones and thus records rotating speeds (rpm) of the three rotating units of the pitching unit on the right zones and coordinate values of pitching positions on the left zones. The coordinate values are relative position values to given reference positions (0,0,0) and if no value (−) exists, the corresponding positions are reference positions or set to keep the position values of the pitch performed before the corresponding pitch.

FIGS. 10a to 10d are exemplary views showing the player data of a specific pitcher adopted in the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method according to the present invention.

As shown in tables (a) to (s) of FIGS. 10a to 10d , the pitch type and speed data according to the present invention is generated by using command percentage data in predetermined situations or pitch types. In this case, the pitch types include fastball, slider, curve, changeup, splitter, sinker, knuckle, and others and the situations include right-handed batters, left-handed batters, both-handed batters, nonexistence of runners, existence of runners, existence of runners in scoring position (in second or third bases), first pitch, pitch after two strikes, a situation where a ball count is advantageous because strikes are larger than balls (strikes>balls), a situation where a ball count is disadvantageous because balls are larger than strikes (balls>strikes), and a situation where a strike count and a ball count are the same as each other (strikes=balls).

In specific, as shown in table (a) of FIG. 10a , the pitch type and speed data sets an area A with the highest command percentage among the total command percentage set for the specific pitcher, an area B with a high command percentage, which is the second to the total command percentage, and an area C with a high command percentage, which is the third to the total command percentage and thus stores the areas as the player data of the specific pitcher. The configurations are applied, in the same manner as above, to the command percentages according to the various settings or situations (the pitch types including fastball, slider, curve, changeup, splitter, sinker, knuckle, and others and the situations including right-handed batters, left-handed batters, both-handed batters, nonexistence of runners, existence of runners, existence of runners in scoring position, first pitch, pitch after two strikes, the situation of strikes>balls, the situation of balls>strikes, and the situation of strikes=balls) as shown in FIGS. 10a to 10d . The total command percentage corresponds to the average value obtained by combining the respective command percentages as mentioned above through a predetermined set method. At least any one of the total command percentages or the respective command percentages may be changed according to the user's setting or selection. The control unit operates to select only some of the command percentages according to the user's selection.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram showing a pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 11, the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus 300 according to the present invention includes a database part and a communication part 306. The database part includes a pitch recipe database (DB) 302 and a customer DB 304. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus 300 (hereinafter, referred to simply as ‘service providing apparatus’) includes a collection part 310, a conversion part 320, a storage part 330, and a download management part 340.

The DB part or control unit for managing the pitch recipe DB 302 operates the pitching control analysis recipe to store the player data in the pitch recipe DB 302 and converts the player data to generate the pitch type and speed data and store the generated data in the pitch recipe DB 302. For example, the conversion part 320 generates the pitch type and speed data based on the player data collected by the collection part 310. In this case, the player data includes average pitch speed data and command percentage data by situation and pitch type.

If the player data does not include the average pitch speed data and command percentage data, the conversion part 320 generates average pitch speed data by situation and pitch type for the pitching control positions, based on the pitch speed data and the number of pitches on the strike zones and the surrounding zones (referred to simply as strike zones) and generates the average command percentage data by situation and pitch type on the strike zones, based on the pitch speed data and the number of pitches.

In addition, the DB part or control unit for managing the pitch recipe DB 302 extracts, in response to a data request message transmitted to the communication part 306 through the network, the pitch type and speed data corresponding to the player identifiers included in the data request message and then transmits the extracted pitch type and speed data to the user terminal of the user who sends the data request message. The communication part 306 includes at least one or more kinds of sub-communication systems for transmitting and receiving signals through a wired network, a wireless network, and so on.

In this case, the response to the data request message is carried out by providing the pitch type and speed data of the corresponding player according to the operation of an application built in the user terminal or the user's input, and otherwise, the user terminal is accessed to the service providing apparatus through the network to download the pitch type and speed data stored in advance in the service providing apparatus.

The storage part 330 represents means for storing database or a component performing the functions corresponding to the functions of the means. The storage part 330 is connected to the database part or the control unit to store data or program therein. The storage part 330 includes at least one or more components selected from a semiconductor memory, an optical disc, a magnetic disc, a distributed storage system, a cloud system, and so on.

The download management part 340 extracts at least one or more pitch type and speed data of the specific player according to the data request message recognized or accessed through the communication part 306 and provides the download package including the extracted pitch type and speed data for the user terminal. The download package is a database file or an executable pile including the database file and has the form of compressed file during transmission.

Further, the download management part 340 searches the user corresponding to the customer identifier or user identifier included in the data request message in the customer DB 304 and performs data download management to allow the download to be carried out in a state where user authentication is normally completed. The customer DB 304 stores information on the user or user terminal registered in advance and information on the pitching machine.

So as to provide the pitch type and speed data for a variety of pitching machines, the service providing apparatus 300 according to the present invention stores the pitch type and speed data having customized control values by pitching machine kind in the pitching recipe DB or produces in real time the pitch type and speed data adequate for the corresponding pitching machine according to the conversion rule set in advance if the data request message occurs.

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram showing the conversion part adopted in the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus of FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 13, the conversion part 320 of the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus according to the present invention includes a player data classifier 322, a pitch type and speed data generator 324, a pitch type command percentage data generator, a pitch speed data by situation generator 326, a command percentage data by situation generator, and a pitching scenario data generator 328.

The player data classifier 322 applies codes by players to the player data collected in the collection part or acquired and thus classifies the data.

The pitch type and speed data generator 324 divides the player data by pitch type and thus produces the average pitch speed data by pitch type, based on the number of pitches or command percentages of the pitch speed data by pitch type. The pitch type command percentage data generator calculates the command percentages by pitch type based on the number of pitches by strike zone.

The pitch speed data by situation generator 326 divides the player data divided by pitch type according to situations and thus produces the average pitch speed data by situation and pitch type based on the number of pitches or command percentages of the pitch speed data by situation and pitch type. The command percentage data by situation generator calculates the command percentages by situation and pitch type based on the number of pitches by strike zone and pitch type.

The pitching scenario data generator 328 produces a pitching control analysis recipe based on the average pitch speed data and command percentage data by situation and pitch type. According to the present invention, the pitching control analysis recipe is referred to simply as pitching recipe or pitching control recipe. Based on the pitch type and speed data of a specific player, the pitching control recipe performs the pitching control set in advance according to the game situations in the pitching program. An operating principle of the pitching recipe is shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the main operating principle of the pitching scenario data generator of the conversion part of FIG. 13.

The pitching scenario data generator 328 of the service providing apparatus according to the present invention analyzes the control of the current pitch according to the user's setting or game situations on on-line or off-line and changes the pitching control in real time or keeps the current pitching control.

For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the pitching scenario data generator 328 determines whether a current batter is a right-handed batter or set as a right-handed batter (at step S141). If the current batter is a right-handed batter, a batter situation having the right-handed batter is recorded, and if not a right-handed batter, a batter situation having a left-handed batter is recorded (at step S143). After that, of course, the pitching scenario data generator 328 determines whether the current batter is a left-handed batter, and if not a left-handed batter, it is determined whether the current batter is a both-handed batter.

Next, the pitching scenario data generator 328 determines whether there is a runner (at step S145). If there is no runner, the current pitch is controlled to a first pitch mode with the batter situation recording and nonexistence of runners.

After that, the pitching scenario data generator 328 determines whether there are runners in scoring position, that is, a second or third base (at step S147). If there is no runner on the second or third base, it is determined that the runner is only on a first base, and based on a second pitch mode with such determination and the batter situation record, the pitch type and speed of the current pitch are controlled and the ball target area on the strike zones is determined.

Next, the pitching scenario data generator 328 determines whether the pitch is a first pitch (at step S149). If the pitch is the first pitch, the pitch type and speed of the current pitch are controlled and the target area on the strike zones is determined, which are all based on a third pitch mode with the batter situation recording, existence of the runner in scoring position, and the first pitch.

Sequentially, the pitching scenario data generator 328 determines whether the pitch is a pitch after two strikes (at step S150). If the pitch is the pitch after two strikes, the target area on the strike zones is determined and the pitch type and speed of the current pitch are controlled, which are all based on a fourth pitch mode with the batter situation recording, existence of the runner in scoring position, and the pitch after two strikes. If the pitch is not both the first pitch and the pitch after two strikes, the target area on the strike zones is determined and the pitch type and speed of the current pitch are controlled, which are all based on a fifth pitch mode with the batter situation recording, existence of the runner in scoring position, and the pitch that is not both the first pitch and the pitch after two strikes.

On the other hand, it is, for example, determined that there is the first pitch or the pitch after two strikes in the state where the runner exists in scoring positions, but without being limited thereto, of course, the step of determining whether there is the first pitch or the pitch after two strikes may be performed in parallel with the step of determining whether there is the runner or the step of determining whether there are the scoring positions or may be changed in order with the step. Further, of course, the step of determining whether there is the first pitch or the pitch after two strikes may be performed after the step of determining whether there is no runner or there is a runner on the first base.

Further, the operations and functions of the pitching scenario data generator 328 may be performed under the control of an application of the user terminal, without being limited in those performed in the service providing apparatus, and in the case of the user terminal, the functions of the pitching scenario data generator 328 of the service providing apparatus may be ignored or removed.

FIGS. 15 to 21 are exemplary views showing processes of controlling the pitching machine in the user terminal by using the pitch type and speed data provided from the pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus according to the present invention.

The pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus according to the present invention provides the pitch type and speed data or the pitching control analysis recipe having the pitch type and speed data for the user terminal, and the user terminal makes use of the pitching control analysis recipe or the pitch type and speed data on the application or program built therein to control the operations of the pitching machine.

For example, as shown in FIG. 15, a program (hereinafter referred to as ‘Alpha pitching’) built in the user terminal makes use of the pitching control analysis recipe or the pitch type and speed data under a player mode or a real game mode through user input on a screen 110. A user interface 112 is provided on the screen 110 as shown in FIG. 15 to adjust a zero point.

Further, the user can select a desired player among the pitchers on a user screen 120 as shown in FIG. 16. For example, if the user selects a player H, the control unit reads the player data of the player H according to the selection information (the selection of the player H) of the user terminal.

Instead of the pitch types provided according to situations when a specific pitch is performed, in addition, the user can select his or her desired pitch types on a pitch type selection screen 130 as shown in FIG. 17. For example, if the user selects fastball, curve, and changeup, the control unit uploads the information on the selected pitch types of the specific player according to the pitch type selection information of the user terminal.

Instead of the pitch types provided according to situations when a specific pitch is performed, further, the user can select his or her desired pitch speeds on a pitch speed selection screen 140 as shown in FIG. 18. Moreover, the pitch speeds are automatically applied according to the pitch types or match the pitch types selected by the user input on an additional screen.

The setting selected above may be used to update the pitch type and speed data currently loaded. A user screen 150 of the updated pitching control analysis recipe is shown in FIG. 19. Referring to the pitching control analysis recipe as shown in FIG. 19, among the pitches controlled with the right-handed batter, the pitch types of fastball (FST), splitter (SPL), and slider (SLD), the pitch speeds of 175, 160, 155, 145, 140, 100, and 85 (m/s), strike zones 4 to 7 and 9, and the J-th ball zone, a desired pitch is selected. The nine strike zones with three rows and three columns have serial numbers 1 to 9 in order indicated toward the right side from the first row and the first column, toward the right side from the second row and the first column, and toward the right side from the third row and the first column. Further, the 16 ball zones have serial characters A to P in order indicated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction or in arbitrary order.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the user terminal provides a user interface screen 132 for adjusting a zero point. The user can adjust the zero point of the pitching machine on the zero point adjusting screen in consideration of the arrival point of the pitch before, during, or after the operation of the pitching machine. In this case, the initial set value of the pitching machine can be updated through a user zero point adjusting input signal of the control unit.

Under the above-mentioned configuration, the user terminal controls the pitching machine through the pitch type and speed data to allow the pitches by situation of the specific pitcher to be reproduced or applied, as shown by a reference numeral 160 of FIG. 21.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the user terminal controls the pitching machine remotely through the pitch type and speed data or the pitching control analysis recipe having the pitch type and speed data, but without being limited thereto, the user terminal or the service providing apparatus may provide the pitch type and speed data or the pitching control analysis recipe having the pitch type and speed data for the pitching machine control device. In this case, the pitching machine control device may become the user terminal built in or coupled to the pitching machine. The pitching machine control device as a laptop or tablet PC or the control unit coupled to the pitching machine is built in the form of software, hardware, or a combination thereof. In this case, the control unit includes a logic circuit, a program logic controller, a microcomputer, or a microprocessor.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 

1. A pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing method carried out by a service providing apparatus connected to a user terminal through a network, the method comprising the steps of: converting player data having pitch types and command percentages by pitcher in real game situations into pitch type and speed data of a pitching machine, the pitch type and speed data having information of pitch speeds and command percentages by situation and pitch type; and providing the pitch type and speed data corresponding to the player data for the user terminal in response to a request message for the player data.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the converting step, the player data is analyzed and stored as average pitch speeds and command percentages on strike zones by player, situation, and pitch type, and based on the average pitch speeds and command percentages by player and pitch type, the positions and rotating speeds of ball driving units of the pitching machine on the strike zones are determined.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pitch type and speed data is a pitching control recipe of the pitching machine in the user terminal and comprises first control values for throwing balls with the pitch types and speeds of a given pitcher under situations including a right-handed batter, a left-handed batter, existence of runners, first pitch, pitch after two strikes, and a combination thereof.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the pitch type and speed data comprises second control values for setting pitching positions of balls or determining target positions of balls, which are used together with the first control values.
 5. A pitching machine pitch type and speed data providing apparatus connected to a user terminal through a network to provide pitch type and speed data of a pitching machine for the user terminal, the apparatus comprising: a conversion part for converting player data having pitch types and command percentages by pitcher in real game situations into pitch type and speed data of the pitching machine, the pitch type and speed data having information of pitch speeds and command percentages by situation and pitch type; and a download management part for providing the pitch type and speed data corresponding to the player data for the user terminal in response to a request message for the player data.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a collection part for acquiring the player data and transmitting the acquired player data to a pitch recipe database.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the download management part recognizes a request for a player or recipe from a user interface of a pitching program built in the user terminal through a communication part and provides the pitch type and speed data for the user terminal in response to the request.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pitch type and speed data comprises a plurality of pitch types having fastball, slider, curve, changeup, splitter, sinker, cutter, forkball, and a combination thereof and control values for designating the positions and operating speeds of pitching machine units for the pitches of the pitching machine that are set in advance according to the average pitch speeds and command percentages on the respective pitch types. 